Valley Meat Co.

After day-long testimony very similar to last October’s hearing examiner proceedings for a state ground water discharge permit, a state judge said Monday that he would issue an order Friday on whether to lift a temporary restraining order and allow Valley Meat Co. in Roswell, NM, to start slaughtering horses. Meanwhile, New Mexico State District… Continue Reading

A year-end attempt by New Mexico Attorney General Gary King to quickly prevent a Roswell slaughterhouse from processing USDA-inspected horsemeat for export has apparently failed. It means a New Mexico business could be still be slaughtering horses as early as Jan. 1. King, a Democrat who is also running for governor, held a Dec. 19… Continue Reading

Rains Natural Meats in Gallatin, MO, was to have begun processing horsemeat for export today, but instead finds itself added to a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge in New Mexico. This means USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) must “suspend or withhold the provision of horse meat inspection services to Rains… Continue Reading

Animal welfare plaintiffs challenging in federal court USDA’s inspection of two horsemeat packing businesses will have to post a bond of almost $500,000 to have their case proceed in the short term. A federal magistrate in Albuquerque set the amount on Thursday after hearing from the parties in the case, including Valley Meat Co. in… Continue Reading

Funding for inspection looking unlikely

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday granted permission for a former New Mexico beef slaughterhouse to convert its facility into one meant to slaughter horses, the Associated Press reported. Despite the permit, however, plant operations won’t begin until the federal government allows inspection, a move that is currently up in the air. Valley Meat Co…. Continue Reading

USDA officials had no issues leaving behind a recommendation for an immediate grant of inspection from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) after visiting Valley Meat Co., located near Roswell, NM Tuesday, its attorney says. If true, this would mean Valley Meat Co. would be the first USDA-inspected horse slaughterhouse to commence operation since… Continue Reading

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin is expected to sign House Bill 1999, which will bring an end to the state’s 50-year ban on slaughtering horses. The bill passed the Oklahoma Senate on a 32-14 vote on Tuesday after being approved 82-14 in the House a month earlier. HB 1999 is now on the Governor’s desk for the… Continue Reading